It should be a keen tussle between bat and ball

Dinesh WEERAWANSA

CRICKET: It should be a keen tussle between bat and ball when two unbeaten teams - Ananda and Nalanda, clash in their 77th annual Battle of the Maroons cricket encounter which starts at SSC grounds, Colombo today.

While Ananda will make every effort to bring back their memories of a great big match win three years ago, Nalanda will fire all cylinders to end a half a century old hoodoo without a win.

The two captains - Chathura Herath (Ananda) and Gihan Rupasinghe (Nalanda) were optimistic of a decision in this year's encounter. Both teams have remained unbeaten this season and are brimming with confidence.

Ananda, after their memorable win in 2003. Ananda have the honour of emerging victorious when the Battle of the Maroons had decisions on last two occasions - in 1982 and 2003.

On the other hand, Nalanda are well aware that a big match win is a long overdue for them. Since that famous Nalanda victory way back in 1953 under W.W. Silva, the Campbell Place lads are yet to come across a repeat performance.

Hence, this year's game is an important psychological battle for both teams. Both captains looked confident on the eve of the big 'un but the toss will play a key role in the lively SSC wicket. The recent evening showers could give an advantage to pacemen in the first session.

Hence, the quick bowlers of the side fielding first could look dangerous and top order batsmen coming out this morning should be extra careful.

Ananda captain Herath said they have been putting a lot of effort this season and they are determined to produce two days of cricket at its very best. His vis-...-vis, Rupasinghe looked equally confident and said they have a well balanced side to meet the challenge.

The Battle of the Maroos series has failed to produce results in 53 encounters. Of the 20 matches which had decisions, Ananda has emerged victorious on 14 occasions while Nalanda has only six wins to their credit.

The Ananda-Nalanda series has the honour of producing several top Sri Lanka cricketers who have been associated in historic occasions - first ever Test captain Bandula Warnapura (Nalanda), Sri Lanka's one and the only world cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga (Ananda), present Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu (Ananda), Sri Lanka's first Test centurion Sidat Wettimuny (Ananda), the 1996 World Cup hero Asanka Gurisinha (Nalanda), former Sri Lanka captain turned ICC match referee Roshan Mahanama (Nalanda) and captain of the Sri Lanka team in Bangladesh, Mahela Jayawardena (Nalanda), to name a few.

The birth of the Ananda-Nalanda Battle of the Maroons series began way back in 1924. But due to the two World wars, five matches were not played from 1942 to 1947. Last year's big match ended in a tame draw.

The only bring spot in otherwise uninteresting rain-ruined game in 2005 was a magnificent century by Ananda opener Pradeep Boteju (114) and the bowling performance of leg spinner Gihan Rupasinghe who completed one hundred wickets for that season.

The dependable opener played a sheet anchor role for Ananda and struck fourteen fours and one six facing 201 balls and occupying the crease for 271 minutes.

Batting first in last year's game, Nalanda made 227 for 9 declared and in reply, Ananda made 229 for 5 at stumps in a drab draw.